Black Diamond Equipment®, a global innovator in climbing, skiing and mountain sports equipment, introduces a collection of climbing products for spring 2019 that reflects 30 years of climbing innovation and is targeted at both traditional and gym climbers. Black Diamond’s spring 2019 collection, to be showcased at the upcoming Outdoor Retailer Summer Market, honors the company’s roots and core values and proves that it remains dedicated to pushing limits and challenging conventions in the sport of climbing.
“Our spring 2019 collection affirms our commitment to innovation in climbing and related mountain sports,” explains John Walbrecht, President of Black Diamond Equipment. “Our intimacy with these sports is reflected in the clean, functional design of the products we create. Spring 2019 captures that as well as any season to date.”
New for spring 2019 and specific to the traditional climbing category, Black Diamond introduces the redesigned Camalot C4. The Camalot C4 is 10% lighter than its predecessor, plus it features a modern design that improves on the old tried-and-true Camalots. The cam’s lobes are lighter and more sculpted, optimized for strength to weight, while the slings have a visual update for easier differentiation when racking. The new Camalots also include an innovative trigger keeper on sizes #4, #5 and #6, that keep the larger cams contracted for compact racking and immediate release when ready to be placed. Black Diamond also widened the trigger for better handling.
Replacing its current Chaos harness, Black Diamond introduces the Solution Guide, a comfortable all-day traditional climbing harness. By utilizing an ultra-durable construction consisting of Super Fabric®, an abrasion resistant fabric that’s infused with tiny guard plates, the Solution Guide can withstand day after day of rugged use. The durability is matched with uncompromised comfort, which is the result of a contoured fit (in both men and women’s styles) and Black Diamond’s proprietary Fusion Comfort Technology.
Additional highlights from Black Diamond’s spring 2019 collection relevant to traditional climbing include its redesigned Half Dome helmet. The Half Dome features a new lower profile suspension system with a one-handed dial combined with streamlined headlamp clips for added comfort and simplicity. A worthy addition to any multi-pitch kit, the Rock Blitz 15 pack, is designed to move with you pitch after pitch carrying all the necessary essentials to the summit. Other key new products include the Neutrino Quickdraw, a versatile and utilitarian quickdraw light enough for multi-pitch missions, and two belay devices including the ATC-Guide and ATC-Alpine Guide. While both feature multiple friction modes for belay and rappel, the new designs focus on weight savings with the ATC-Alpine Guide weighing in at only 73 grams.
“From the redesigned Camalot C4s, to the Zone climbing shoe engineered for the send, we continually strive to make the best climbing equipment in the world, states Kolin Powick, climbing category director for Black Diamond Equipment. “With 26 new climbing products scheduled for Spring 2019, we are proud to introduce equipment that allows climbers of all abilities to redefine what they can accomplish.”
Black Diamond entered the climbing shoe market in 2018 with its innovative Engineered Knit Technology and a unique molded rubber. For spring 2019, particular to the sport and gym climbing audiences, Black Diamond introduces the Zone and Zone LV (low volume) climbing shoes. The Zone is a two-strap Velcro shoe with an upper featuring Black Diamond’s Engineered Knit Technology. The Zone’s last is downturned and based on an aggressive shape, making it adept at pulling hard on steep rock or plastic. The Zone’s sticky Fuse rubber is molded – inspired by the way Black Diamond forges its carabiners and not cut from one sheet of rubber. The Zone’s vamp area also has printed rubber for extra friction while toe-hooking, and its medium flex midsole add a balance of sensitivity and power.
With an emphasis on a growing urban demographic in the sport that is discovering climbing through the gym, Black Diamond’s spring 2019 collection will introduce Forged Denim climbing jeans, Flowstone Chino Pants, Street Creek 20/24 lifestyle packs, Pure Gold climbing chalk (with Upsalite), chalk bags, skin maintenance kits and logowear featuring classic BD designs, organic cotton and a comfortable fit.
Lastly, in conjunction with its climbing athlete Alex Honnold and in support of the Honnold Foundation, Black Diamond is launching the Solution harness – Honnold Limited Edition at Outdoor Retailer Summer Market in Denver. As part of the collaboration, Black Diamond will launch its Solution harness in a unique colorway as the first product of a larger Alex Honnold collection. This product is men’s only and will feature a Honnold signature screen printed on the left leg. Also, a limited edition re-issue of the Mojo Repo chalk bag that Honnold used during his historic free solo of the Freerider on El Cap will debut at the same time. Black Diamond will donate a percentage of sales from both products to the Honnold Foundation.
Black Diamond Equipment’s Spring ‘19 collection will be on display next week, July 23-26, 2018, at booth #42081-UL at Outdoor Retailer Summer Market in Denver.
About Black Diamond Equipment, Ltd.
Black Diamond Equipment, Ltd. is a global leader in creating innovative outdoor-engineered equipment and apparel for climbing, mountaineering, backpacking, skiing and a wide range of other year-round outdoor activities. Black Diamond Equipment, and its sister brand PIEPS™, are synonymous with performance, innovation, durability and safety in the outdoor consumer community. Headquartered in Salt Lake City at the base of the Wasatch Mountains, our products are designed and exhaustively tested by an engaged team of discerning entrepreneurs and engineers. The Black Diamond Equipment culture of precision and excellence enhance the authenticity of our brands, inspire product innovation and strengthen customer loyalty. Black Diamond Equipment's products are sold in approximately 50 countries around the world. For additional information, please visit our website at www.blackdiamondequipment.com or www.pieps.com.